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Topic Review (Newest First)

12-28-2015 07:13 AM

Nordic

Too much light too soon.

You are doing something difficult (unnatural?).
Growing plants that in nature live in shallow water, probably only emersed for short periods at a time, at depth.
This would require lots more light than normal.

On the other hand you are dealing with a substrate that is already initially more prone to nutrient imbalances and algae outbreaks in the early stages, in fact its probably a given.

Your plant biomass is new and probably more in repair mode from being transplanted than growth, so they are not taking up as much nutrients as they can yet.

For now I'd blackout that tank till algae production stops, I have never seen the black stuff just disappear by itself. New leaves will grow in time and the ugly ones fall off, and hopefully you can add a thin layer of fresh sand to hide the spots on the ground, once things settle down.

Start up new cycle with less light (increased height or dimmer)for less time.... (adjust photoperiod for when you are around to enjoy it) remember that white sand acts as another reflector. This is ramped up with the actual growing needs in your tank until you reach equilibrium.

12-28-2015 12:53 AM

Meganne

But it isn't Just top soil ...it is mineralized top soil... go to the first few pages of the thread and see

after about Year or so I used flourish a few time...but just found myself fighting grren water. so discontinued that fast enough!
and about a year ago I felt the larg leaf plant front right was struggling so I put some osmocote in a clay ball and stuffed it in the sand under that plant.

I love the tank! That's a difficult space to fill and you've done it well. The small size is.certainly a challenge with a large fish load. Two of my 3 tanks are 75 gallons for that reason. In a small tank a.single fish dying can kill everything. Some fish just die... Ive had 5 fish die in the last two weeks and my water could not be better. 3 Bloodfin Tetras and 2 Panda Corys (I think the temps maybe finally got to them?)
Keep doing what you're doing. I love the Victorian cichlid

so one of the othr things I do is hand build with clay, as in pottery. I have been on a roll making little mermaids, dont ask me why as I dont really know. Anyway, two of my cousins have planted tanks and put the mermaids I had gifted them into their tanks. My husband loved the idea so now one lives in my tank. Pretty tacky I know, but seeing as I put this all together for him in the first place it was his call

I wouldn't have noticed if you hadn't mentioned it. Interesting! Looks a bit like a Roman statue I once bought in Germany.

07-10-2015 06:58 PM

andrewss

love this tank! tall tanks seem pretty hard to get looking right but you seem to have had no problem

07-10-2015 05:26 AM

holoublahee

The tank looks great! I really like how it's filled in and progressed over the years.

07-10-2015 03:33 AM

Meganne

tank up date pictures!

Bump:

Bump:

02-18-2015 03:17 AM

Meganne

thought it was time for an update on this tank.
it is home to 11 green neons, 5 black rasbora, 5 rummy nose tetra, 2 sparkling gouramies, and a male dwarf Victoria mouth breeder

09-07-2014 01:38 AM

Meganne

today replaced the threadfins with black rasboras. I guess fancy isn't my taste! lol
I like the beefy presence of the rasboras and being dark purple they show agains the greenery nicely

08-16-2014 07:35 AM

Meganne

replaced the green neons, I love them had to have them.
and have added 6 threadfin rainbows

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